Advent day 4

Matthew 15:29-37          Advent day 4

           I have been speaking about Gifts from God. Certainly the gift of the God child, Jesus is what we focus on but it is both truth and metaphor because God wishes us to have light in our lives and Jesus is the birth of the light to all the world.

           In todays reading there are many gifts that Jesus has been dispensing. What gifts are you praying for? Please don't say Wii unless it's Oui! to Jesus!

           Are you lame and wish to walk? Are you blind and wish to see? Perhaps you wish to see the truth and the love around you. Perhaps you can't see the goodness in others around you - or in yourself. Are you deformed in some way, physically or emotionally? Is that what you are praying for? Are you mute and wish to speak? Do you feel mute and wish to be heard?

            God always listens. Again, start the conversation during this Advent. God will appreciate the gift you are giving to Him because he wants so much to hear from you.

            In this reading Jesus feeds the people. Another gift. He will gladly feed us what we truly need, not just mere food but what truly sustains us and makes us full and happy, complete and satisfied.

            What presents are you praying for?  Let us pray.

At that time:

Jesus walked by the Sea of Galilee,

went up on the mountain, and sat down there.

Great crowds came to him,

having with them the lame, the blind, the deformed, the mute,

and many others.

They placed them at his feet, and he cured them.

The crowds were amazed when they saw the mute speaking,

the deformed made whole,

the lame walking,

and the blind able to see,

and they glorified the God of Israel.

Jesus summoned his disciples and said,

"My heart is moved with pity for the crowd,

for they have been with me now for three days

and have nothing to eat.

I do not want to send them away hungry,

for fear they may collapse on the way."

The disciples said to him,

"Where could we ever get enough bread in this deserted place

to satisfy such a crowd?"

Jesus said to them, "How many loaves do you have?"

"Seven," they replied, "and a few fish."

He ordered the crowd to sit down on the ground.

Then he took the seven loaves and the fish,

gave thanks, broke the loaves,

and gave them to the disciples, who in turn gave them to the crowds.

They all ate and were satisfied.

They picked up the fragments left over--seven baskets full.